DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF - OPERATIONS (Extended)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as its next Deputy Fire Chief of Operations — a high-impact executive role working directly with the Fire Chief to guide operational excellence, strengthen organizational leadership, and advance the District's mission of providing high-quality emergency services to the communities we serve.

This is a role for a proven leader — someone who builds trust through action, develops the people around them, and brings both operational depth and strategic clarity to every challenge. The Deputy Chief plays a critical role in maintaining operational readiness, supporting personnel development, and ensuring the District continues to deliver professional, responsive, and effective fire-rescue services across one of Nevada's most dynamic and diverse service areas.

If you are ready to bring your best work to a district that values integrity, innovation, and service — we want to hear from you.

THE DISTRICT

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District serves the unincorporated areas of Washoe County, Nevada, providing all-hazards emergency services including fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical services, technical rescue operations, and hazardous materials response. Our personnel respond to a wide range of incidents across suburban, rural, and wilderness environments, maintaining year-round operational readiness with a deep commitment to professional development, innovation, and continuous improvement.

OUR COMMUNITY

Washoe County stretches across more than 6,600 square miles along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northwestern Nevada.

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) is an all-risk agency serving a population exceeding 105,000 and directly encompassing 962 square miles of unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada with a diverse mix of suburban neighborhoods, rural communities, and wildland-urban interface areas.

The region enjoys a four-season climate with low humidity, moderate snowfall, and more than 300 days of sunshine each year. Residents have access to world-class outdoor recreation — Lake Tahoe, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and an unmatched quality of life. The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area has experienced significant economic growth, with major employers including Tesla, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Switch, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Renown Health, contributing to a strong and increasingly diverse regional economy.

THE ROLE

Under the direction of the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief helps plan, supervise, and coordinate major operational and administrative activities of the District. The Deputy Chief provides high-level leadership in emergency operations, personnel management, program development, and organizational planning and may serve as Acting Fire Chief when assigned.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Fire Chief in organizational leadership and strategic initiatives
• Responding to complex incidents and performing command-level roles within the Incident Command System
• Supervising personnel and supporting leadership development across all ranks
• Evaluating service delivery models and operational effectiveness
• Assisting with labor-management relations activities
• Supporting budget development and resource management
• Participating in long-range planning and operational readiness initiatives

THE LEADER WE ARE SEEKING

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong operational judgment and decisive, principled decision-making
• Professional integrity and ethical leadership at every level
• A collaborative style that builds trust, accountability, and cohesion
• Commitment to developing personnel and cultivating future leaders
• Strategic thinking with a focus on continuous improvement
• The ability to represent the District effectively with community partners, elected officials, and regional agencies

SELECTION PROCESS & TIMELINE

Recruitment Open

Application and Written Exercise

Assessment Center

Fire Chief Interviews (Finalists from Assessment Center)

Background Investigation and Medical Evaluation for Finalist

(Physical Part 1 5/8 @ 10:30 a.m. and Part 2 5/18 @ 11:00am)

Tentative Start Date

March12,2026

April 6, 2026

April 24, 2026

April 25, 2026

April 27 – May 17, 2026

June 1, 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Apply and submit all application materials by no later than April 6, 2026

• Written Exercise must be attached to the application as a Microsoft Word document only
• Cover letter addressing yourinterestandqualifications
• Current résumé
• Copies of required certifications
• Contact information for professional references (references will not be contacted without prior consent)

Questions? Contact Carla Arribillaga, HR Manager, at 775-326-6007or carribillaga@tmfpd.us

ASSESSMENT CENTER DESCRIPTION

The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a comprehensive Assessment Center. The Assessment Center is designed to evaluate executive-level competencies, operational knowledge, and leadership capability through three distinct components:

• Oral Interview — A structured panel interview evaluating leadership philosophy, decision-making, interpersonal effectiveness, and alignment with the District's mission and values.
• Executive Presentation — Candidates will deliver a formal presentation on a designated topic, demonstrating their ability to communicate strategically, organize complex information, and engage a professional audience.
• Strategy and Tactics Exercise — Candidates will be evaluated on their ability to assess a complex emergency scenario, establish command priorities, and articulate a clear, effective incident action plan consistent with the Incident Command System.

Finalists from the Assessment Center will advance to a final interview with the Fire Chief.

As part of the Deputy Fire Chief recruitment process, all candidates are required to complete the written exercise included below. This exercise is a scored component of the selection process and will be evaluated alongside your application materials to determine advancement to the Assessment Center. Candidates must carefully review and adhere to all instructions, formatting requirements, and submission guidelines outlined in this document. Submissions that do not meet the listed requirements may not be considered for further evaluation. The written exercise is your opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking, professional communication, and the depth of executive-level insight you would bring to this role.

IMPORTANT:WRITTEN EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS

You have been appointed to Deputy Fire Chief of Operations in a growing all-hazard fire district serving an urban-interface community. The organization is experiencing:

• Increased call volume and service demand
• Ongoing labor negotiations with the firefighters’ association
• Heightened public scrutiny following a large wildfire that destroyed several homes
• Budget constraints due to flat property tax revenue
• Pressure from elected officials to improve regional fire service delivery

Prepare a comprehensive essay outlining your first 12-month strategic operational plan. Your essay should reference your relevant experiences and specifically address:

1. Operational Leadership
   • Your approach to command presence and incident management at complex, large-scale emergencies
   • Strategies to ensure operational readiness, training standards, and accountability
   • How you will evaluate and improve response performance metrics
2. Political Acumen
   • How you will build trust with elected officials and executive leadership
   • Your strategy for communicating operational needs in a politically sensitive environment
   • How you will manage public perception following a controversial incident
3. Labor Relations
   • Your philosophy on labor-management relationships
   • How you will approach negotiations while maintaining operational continuity
   • Strategies for handling conflict between administration and line personnel
4. Executive Leadership & Organizational Culture
   • How you will set expectations for Battalion Chiefs and Company Officers
   • Your leadership philosophy and decision-making framework
   • How you will develop future leaders within the organization
5. Fiscal Responsibility
   • How you will prioritize operational needs within budget limitations
   • Your approach to data-driven resource deployment
   • Strategies for balancing service expectations with fiscal realities

Formatting Requirements

Failure to follow formatting instructions may result in disqualification.

• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
• Spacing: Double-spaced
• Margins: 1-inch on all sides
• Alignment: Left aligned (no full justification)
• Header (top right corner):
  • Last Name, First Name
  • Deputy Chief of Operations Essay
  • Date
• Page numbers: Bottom center
• Section headings: Bold, clearly labeled according to the five required sections above.
• Written Exercise must be attached to the application as a Microsoft Word document only

A Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, Fire Technology or closely related field and fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible firefighting experience in an all-risk agency responsible for fire prevention, suppression, medical emergencies, and hazardous materials incidents, including at least five (5) years of Chief Officer experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities of the essential functions of the position.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

• A Valid Driver’s License
• Incident Command System ICS 100, 200, 300, 400
• IS-700 NIMS
• IS-800 National Response Framework
• Possession of a Hazardous Materials Incident Commander Certificate

• CPR certification within six months of appointment
• Nevada or National Registry Basic Emergency Medical Technician or higher certification within one year of appointment.

HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Executive Fire Officer (EFO) designation — National Fire Academy
• Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation — Center for Public Safety Excellence
• Master's degree in Fire Service Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Emergency Management, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience leading major operational programs or divisions
• Experience working within a labor-management environment
• Experience in strategic planning and organizational leadership

• Serves as acting Fire Chief when assigned.
• Provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the Fire Chief, including responding to complex fire, rescue, multi-causality and hazardous materials incidents and perform at the Command Level within the incident command system as assigned.
• Oversees and manages multiple divisions within the organization.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements, such as Annual Operating Plans, Dispatch Agreements, and EMS Response Agreements.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures directing Medical Rescue, Pre-hospital care, Quality Assurance, EMS/Fire Administration, Public Health Care programs, Infection control, EMS Training programs, Personnel Development and other EMS activities.
• Represent the Fire District with integrity to other departments and outside agencies; participate in professional group meetings and coordinate assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies.
• Develops, implements, and manages divisional goals, objectives, work standards, policies, and priorities; reviews and updates policies and procedures for improvement.
• Responds to complex incidents and participate in the incident as assigned.
• Establishes, within District policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivery methods and procedures; allocates resources accordingly as it relates to the needs of Operations and/or Support Division.
• May command District operations resources on significant and complex incidents.
• Assists with Labor/Management relations activities as assigned.
• Formulate, prepare and monitor assigned budget(s) by recommending expenditures, monitoring approved budget(s).
• ISO Coordinates data collection and interviews for the ISO evaluation and provides recommendations to sustain and enhance ratings.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue operations and fire investigation.
• Oversees the coordination of the District’s emergency communications radio system to include Dispatch.
• Assigns and delegates personnel to conduct fire investigations and to determine fire cause and origin.
• Coordinate and delegate pre-fire planning activities to appropriate personnel.
• May serve as Strike Team Leader or other certified and qualified overhead position.
• Ensures the district is fully outfitted with necessary supplies, equipment, and tools. Prepares or reviews specifications for purchase of equipment and apparatus.
• Directs the preparation of purchase orders, requests for proposals, and other purchasing mechanisms within assigned responsibility.
• Directs, approves and oversees the development of strategic and long-range training plans.
• Ensures volunteer and career personnel, equipment and apparatus, and communications systems meet requirements for effective operation.
• Develops long-term replacement plans for apparatus.

• Policies and procedures of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.
• Current best practices, developments and trends in the fire service including fire suppression, prevention and labor/management relations.
• Current Federal, state, and local laws pertinent to the assigned function, including fire and emergency medical services.
• Principals, practices, methods and techniques of fire suppression, including wildland suppression, prevention and investigation.
• Methods and principles of fire suppression, fire investigation and fire prevention.
• Principles and practices of skilled paramedic pre-hospital care.
• Principles of medical disaster planning and theories of emergency management.
• Health Department operation and services.
• Infection control practices and procedures.
• Labor laws and the ability to manage both volunteer and career personnel.
• Management skills to analyze programs, policies and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

• Function as Incident Commander on a wide variety of complex incidents.
• Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of staff.
• Supervise personnel, including training, assigning, and reviewing work, administering discipline, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Evaluate work priorities and processes to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.
• Respond to emergency situations as needed.
• Assist with the preparation and administration of large and complex budgets.
• Analyze problems and emergency situations, quickly develop effective and reasonable courses of action, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Address personnel matters.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Interact regularly with the public and the community.
• Make presentations before local community boards and the Board of Fire Commissioners.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental personnel, other public safety agencies, the public, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Exercise emotional control and work under stressful situations.
• Work independently in the absence of direct supervision.